Centre to make organ transplant simpler

The Centre said it will bring in amendments to make organ transplant law simpler and provide for stiffer punishment for racketeering.

Against the backdrop of a flourishing kidney racket in various states, the Centre on Tuesday said it would bring in amendments to make the organ transplant law simpler and provide for stiffer punishment for racketeering.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said the government would bring in an amendment to the National Organ Transplant Act in the coming budget session to make it more simple and also enhance punishment for those indulging in illegal trade of organs.

The amendment to the Act will be two-pronged. It will try to make it simpler and more transparent, the Minister said. Any transplant in the country will be mentioned online.

While the minister did not elaborate on the exact amendments, it appears that the government may be thinking of liberalising the provisions relating to donors of organs. Currently, the donors are restricted to blood relatives and spouses.

The minister's comments come in the wake of unearthing of a widespread kidney racket in Gurgaon with links to several other states.

The government would also launch a national programme on creating awareness about organ transplant, he said. "A major mass-media campaign will soon be organised in the country to bring about a behavioural change so that people are willing to donate organs".